Occupation · SOC 25-3011
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
324 mapped
Core skills
InstructingSpeakingReading ComprehensionLearning StrategiesActive ListeningWritingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingActive LearningService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementComplex Problem SolvingNegotiationCoordinationSystems AnalysisPersuasionSystems EvaluationMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesTechnology DesignOperations MonitoringScienceProgrammingOperations AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministrativeAdministration and ManagementMathematicsPsychologySociology and AnthropologyComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaHistory and ArcheologyGeographyTherapy and CounselingLaw and GovernmentPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesForeign LanguageFine ArtsBiologySales and MarketingTelecommunicationsChemistryEconomics and AccountingTransportationPhysicsDesignMedicine and DentistryEngineering and TechnologyProduction and ProcessingMechanicalFood ProductionBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
Adobe PhotoshopBlackboard softwareComputerized testing softwareEdmodoEdpuzzleEducational softwareFacebookGoogle ClassroomGoogle Workspace softwareKahoot!Learning management system LMSMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft PublisherMicrosoft WordQuizletSAP softwareWeb browser softwareWord processing softwareZoom
Representative tasks
Thinking CreativelyInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoaching and Developing OthersTraining and Teaching OthersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsWorking with ComputersGetting InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAssisting and Caring for OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsAnalyzing Data or InformationPerforming Administrative ActivitiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersProcessing InformationDeveloping and Building TeamsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationSelling or Influencing OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Lesson objectives — establish and communicate in writing to adult learners at the start of each instructional unit in a basic education classroom.Classroom materials and physical space — prepare and arrange under supervisor guidance before scheduled class activities in an adult learning center.Student work samples — observe and record basic progress notes using program-provided templates in a structured ABE or ESL setting.Instructional methods — apply assigned lecture and discussion techniques under direct mentor feedback during initial classroom placements.Individual student characteristics — identify observable qualifications, interests, and limitations by conducting structured intake observations in an adult education program.Reading comprehension strategies — introduce foundational techniques to low-level adult learners using program-approved materials in a supervised classroom.Office suite and presentation software — use to prepare basic instructional handouts and slide decks for adult secondary or ESL lessons.Active listening practices — demonstrate during one-on-one student conferences to capture learner concerns and relay them to supervising instructors.Further education pathways — introduce available learning opportunities to students by sharing program-provided resources in a group orientation session.Balanced instructional activities — assist in planning and delivering observation, questioning, and practice segments within a co-taught adult education class.
developing
Student progress — evaluate routinely using formative assessments and provide targeted written and verbal feedback across ABE, secondary, and ESL course levels.Teaching methods and instructional materials — adapt independently to address varying learner needs and ability levels within a multi-level adult education classroom.Unit and lesson objectives — design aligned to program standards and communicate clearly to diverse adult learner cohorts with limited supervision.Balanced instructional programs — plan and conduct independently, integrating lecture, demonstration, discussion, and hands-on investigation within a weekly course schedule.Computer-based training and multimedia software — select and integrate into lessons to support differentiated instruction in an adult literacy or ESL program.Learner qualifications and interests — assess systematically through observation and informal interviews to inform individualized instructional decisions in an ongoing course.Learning strategies — model and teach to adult students persisting through challenging reading and writing tasks in a secondary education preparation program.Time management practices — apply when juggling simultaneous responsibilities including lesson planning, student conferencing, and program reporting in an adult education center.Written communication skills — develop in students by designing scaffolded writing tasks appropriate to GED preparation or intermediate ESL proficiency levels.Student perseverance and goal-setting — foster through regular encouragement conversations and structured reflection activities that prepare adults for post-program educational transition.
proficient
Complex learner needs — diagnose and resolve autonomously by applying critical thinking and problem-sensitivity across mixed-ability adult education cohorts without supervisory direction.Full instructional scope — deliver independently across ABE, adult secondary, and ESL program levels, flexibly shifting methods based on real-time learner response.Non-routine student challenges — address through nuanced judgment and decision-making, drawing on deep knowledge of English language acquisition and adult learning theory.Individualized and group instruction — design and execute simultaneously, balancing small-group differentiation with whole-class activities in a high-enrollment adult learning program.Inductive and deductive reasoning tasks — scaffold explicitly for adult learners preparing for equivalency examinations or workforce entry in a secondary education program.Technology integration — curate and deploy web-based, multimedia, and computer-based platforms strategically to meet diverse modality needs across an adult education curriculum.Social perceptiveness — apply continuously to detect shifts in student motivation, cultural dynamics, and interpersonal tensions, adjusting classroom climate interventions accordingly.Oral expression and speech clarity — model and coach systematically in ESL and oral communication modules, providing detailed corrective feedback tied to learner proficiency benchmarks.Program-wide instructional continuity — coordinate with colleagues and administrators to ensure cohesive learning sequences across course levels in an adult education department.Evidence-based instructional improvement — gather, analyze, and act on student performance data to refine lesson design and intervention strategies across a full program cycle.
advanced
Instructional vision and standards — establish program-wide pedagogical direction for ABE, GED, and ESL tracks, aligning curriculum frameworks to state and federal adult education mandates.Emerging instructors — mentor and evaluate systematically, designing onboarding experiences and ongoing coaching structures that build departmental teaching capacity across an adult education organization.Curriculum architecture — lead the design and periodic revision of scope-and-sequence documents, ensuring vertical alignment and rigor across all program levels and modalities.Complex institutional challenges — resolve by applying advanced judgment, negotiating across stakeholder groups, and modeling adaptive leadership within a large adult education or workforce development system.Professional learning community — cultivate among instructional staff by facilitating collaborative inquiry cycles, peer observation protocols, and data-driven reflection sessions at the organizational level.Strategic technology adoption — evaluate, advocate for, and oversee implementation of enterprise-level educational software and learning management systems that serve diverse adult learner populations at scale.Equity and access frameworks — champion by developing policies and instructional support structures that reduce systemic barriers for historically underserved adult learners across program sites.External partnerships — negotiate and manage with community colleges, workforce agencies, and social services to create articulated pathways that extend learner opportunity beyond the immediate program.Organizational performance — monitor through multi-metric accountability systems, translating program-wide outcome data into strategic recommendations for administrators, funders, and policy stakeholders.Field-level knowledge — contribute to by presenting research-informed practices at professional conferences, authoring program evaluation reports, and shaping regional adult education policy conversations.
Also known as
38 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Academic SpecialistAdult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor)Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher)Adult Basic Studies TeacherAdult Education CoordinatorAdult Education InstructorAdult Education SpecialistAdult Education TeacherAdult EducatorAdult ESL Instructor (Adult English as a Second Language Instructor)Adult ESL Teacher (Adult English as a Second Language Teacher)Adult Literacy InstructorAdult Literacy TeacherAdult Remedial Education InstructorAdult School TeacherAdult Secondary Education InstructorBilingual InstructorBilingual TeacherCommunity Education SpecialistEnglish InstructorEnglish TeacherESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor)ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language Teacher)ESOL Instructor (English for Speakers of Other Languages Instructor)ESOL Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages Teacher)GED Instructor (General Educational Development Instructor)GED Preparation Teacher (General Educational Development Preparation Teacher)GED Teacher (General Educational Development Teacher)General Education TeacherInstructorLiteracy CoachLiteracy SpecialistLiteracy TeacherMath Teacher (Mathematics Teacher)Reading SpecialistReading TeacherRemedial Reading, Math, or Other Subject TeacherTeacher